The Heat is On for the Interior West for the First Full Week of July

Just as heat is starting to build over the central and eastern U.S. this weekend, a secondary zone of hot temperatures is coming together over the interior West.

The rising temperatures will come just as the sun reaches its peak July intensity. Here is a look at this toasty forecast.

Interior West to Sizzle in the Days Ahead

A large swath of the western U.S. is bracing for some of the hottest temperatures of the year so far. The heat will settle in at the beginning of the week, raising the risk of wildfire dangers across the parched region.

The Fourth of July weekend is ushering in largely typical conditions for this time of the year for the western U.S. However, that will change at the start of the new work week when the temperatures reach levels about 15 degrees above the historical average. Some of the hottest areas could see the temperatures reach levels as high as 20 degrees above the norm for early July.

July generally ushers in the hottest temperatures of the year for the interior West. This means that readings that land up to 20 degrees above the average will be dangerously hot. In addition, the temperatures will also likely eclipse the season-high marks recorded at the end of May and in early June.

The top reading in the West so far this year was a sizzling 117 degrees, experienced in both Phoenix and Palm Springs. Las Vegas has seen a top reading of 110 degrees while Salt Lake City recorded a season-high temperature of 104 degrees. Both the Fresno and Sacramento, California areas saw the mercury reach 102 degrees in recent weeks.

A large zone of high pressure building across the interior Southwest and the northwestern corner of Mexico will be responsible for the increasing temperatures this weekend. This area of high pressure will also work to put a lid on the tropical moisture that has been flowing into the interior West over the last week.